CTV Two

Crooks target New Westminster gun store

A owner of a New Westminster, B.C. gun store was in hospital Monday night after two men tied him up and took off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

Two men walked into the Lock Stock and Barrell gun store at about 3:00 p.m.

Owner Gary Allwood thought they were ordinary customers until they took out a weapon of their own.

"They managed to get behind the counter, tied him down and beat him with a club,'' said Geoff Allwood, the owner's son.

The men then grabbed all the guns they could carry - including 20 handguns and rifles, and fled.

When police arrived, they found Allwood on the floor.

"There were guns around but it's not something you can do in Canada defend yourself with a firearm,'' said Geoff Allwood. "It's unfortunate. Otherwise there'd be two criminals in the hospital versus my dad."

One of the suspects is an older white man, between 55 and 65 years old, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with short grey hair.

The second man is described as being in his twenties and has short black hair.

Finding the crooks won't be easy for police because they also made off with the store's security tapes.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward.

Photos

Thieves stole firearms from this New Westminster, B.C. gun store on Monday. August 12, 2008.